Insulating apparatus utilizing a quantity of water for thermal transfer and thermal mass

Abstract

An enclosure for controlling the interior temperature of an outdoor equipment enclosure or a human-or animal-occupied structure, utilizing a quantity of water for thermal transfer and thermal mass. The enclosure is divided into a lower main chamber and an upper small chamber containing the water, the two chambers are in thermal contact, and the water in the upper chamber is in thermal contact with the roof of the enclosure.

1 . An insulating apparatus utilizing a quantity of water for thermal transfer and thermal mass, said apparatus comprising:
 A. a housing having a thermally insulated interior defining an internal chamber, said internal chamber divided by a ceiling into a lower main chamber and an upper small chamber, said housing having a top, said top having an inside surface;   B. said upper small chamber filled with water, said water in thermal contact with said ceiling and the said inside surface of said top of said housing;   C. an insulating panel floating in said water in said upper small chamber, said insulating panel having a top surface, said insulating panel having a spacer or spacers on said top surface.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a hollow water-filled fin extending from the small chamber into the main chamber, said fin sharing water with said small chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the water in the small chamber is in a water container made from a material selected from the group consisting of sheet vinyl, sheet polyurethane and sheet polyethylene. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the water container sits in thermal contact with the ceiling and with the inside surface of said top of said housing. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the water container is a tube. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said small chamber is lined with a water-proof material. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said water-proof material is spray-on polyurethane. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is an outdoor equipment enclosure. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the internal chamber is a human-occupied structure and the housing is a residential or commercial building. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the internal chamber is an animal-occupied structure and the housing is a kennel or farm animal enclosure. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of small chambers are placed adjacent to one another over a single main chamber. 
   
   
       12 . A method for manufacturing an insulating apparatus utilizing a quantity of water for thermal transfer and thermal mass, said method comprising:
 A. providing a housing having a thermally insulated interior defining an internal chamber, said internal chamber divided by a ceiling into a lower main chamber and an upper small chamber, said housing having a top, said top having an inside surface;   B. filling said upper small chamber with water, said water in thermal contact with said ceiling and the said inside surface of said top of said housing;   C. providing an insulating panel floating in said water in said upper small chamber, said insulating panel having a top surface, said insulating panel having a spacer or spacers on said top surface.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of providing a hollow water-filled fin extending from the small chamber into the main chamber, said fin sharing water with said small chamber. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the water in the small chamber is in a water container made from a material selected from the group consisting of sheet vinyl, sheet polyurethane and sheet polyethylene. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the water container sits in thermal contact with the ceiling and with the inside surface of said top of said housing. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the water container is a tube. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of lining the small chamber with a water-proof material. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said water-proof material is spray-on polyurethane. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the housing is an outdoor equipment enclosure. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the internal chamber is a human-occupied structure and the housing is a residential or commercial building.